Bills QB Taylor has bruised tendon in left knee

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Sean McDermott is sticking with Tyrod Taylor as the Bills starter so long as the quarterback’s bruised left knee holds up.

And Buffalo’s coach had nothing more to say Monday about Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski pile-driving into the back of cornerback Tre’Davious White’s head.

”Look, we’ve moved on,” McDermott said a day after Taylor and White were hurt in a 23-3 loss to New England .

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Tests revealed Taylor sustained a bruised patellar tendon, while White is being evaluated for a concussion.

”The more I answer questions about that situation, the longer it lingers,” McDermott said, hours before the NFL issued Gronkowski a one-game suspension , which the tight end is appealing. ”We have to focus on us and the Indianapolis Colts, and that’s what we’ve got to do moving forward.”

The unresolved question is whether Taylor will be physically capable to start Sunday, when Buffalo (6-6) hosts the Colts (3-9).

The ligaments are fine,” McDermott said in listing Taylor as day to day. He added he’ll have a better idea on Taylor’s status once players return to practice Wednesday.

McDermott later told The Associated Press that Taylor’s knee is very sore, when asked if there was any significant swelling.

Taylor was hurt on the first play from scrimmage, and played through the first minute of the fourth quarter before being sidelined in favor of rookie Nathan Peterman. Taylor nodded ”yes,” when asked by The AP if he was OK following the game.

If Taylor can’t play, the Bills would return to Peterman . The rookie fifth-round pick threw five interceptions in the first half of a 54-24 loss at the Los Angeles Chargers two weeks ago.

Buffalo is suddenly fading out of the AFC playoff picture in having lost four of five since getting off to a 5-2 start.

The Bills offense has sputtered under Taylor, which prompted McDermott’s decision to start Peterman against the Chargers.

Taylor finished 9 of 18 for 65 yards and an interception in just a little over three quarters against New England. Peterman went 6 of 15 for 50 yards on three drives that ended with Buffalo turning the ball over on downs.

Taylor’s production has been trending down during the Bills skid.

He’s 1-2 in his past three starts, dating to a 47-10 loss to New Orleans on Nov. 12. During that stretch, which includes a 16-10 win over Kansas City, Taylor has gone a combined 37 of 61 for 304 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Taylor has topped 200 yards passing just four times this season, and hasn’t done so since going 29 of 40 for 285 yards in a 34-21 loss to the New York Jets on Nov. 2.

Against New England, the Bills crossed midfield just three times and came away with no points on two drives that ended inside the Patriots 10.

Taylor threw an interception from the 6 on Buffalo’s opening drive, and Peterman threw an incompletion from the 1 on fourth down in the fourth quarter.

McDermott was careful in not being overly critical regarding an offense that has managed 20 or more first downs just three times this season, and scored two or fewer touchdowns seven times.

”We score three points this past weekend, it’s tough to win games in this league when you score points,” he said. ”What’s what we haven’t done well enough to this point.”

McDermott expressed optimism receiver Kelvin Benjamin can return this week after missing two games with torn cartilage in his right knee.

On the down side, running back Travaris Cadet is being evaluated for a concussion and starting defensive end Shaq Lawson is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle.

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